How former Portsmouth defender Chrstian Burgess fared as his season started in Belgium

Burgess’ 10-man Union Saint-Gilloise side picked up a 2-0 win on the road at Deinze in their Belgian second division opener.

The former Blues defender got 90 minutes under his belt in Flanders, as he helped his side to a clean sheet against the newly-promoted side.

Union picked up victory despite being reduced to 10 men in the 55th minute, when defender Anas Hamzaoui was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Burgess’ side were already 1-0 up at that stage through Mathias Fixelles’s finish, provided by Hamzaoui.

They were able to add to their advantage despite being a man down, as Danish midfielder Casper Nielsen grabbed a second in the 68th minute and Union saw out the win.

That was the only fixture of the night in Union’s league, and continues a smooth introduction to Belgian football for Burgess after enjoying a successful pre-season.

It’s been a tougher start for Cameron McGeehan in the Jupiler League - Belgium’s top flight - with KV Oostende.

The side McGeehan opted to move to permanently after last season’s loan stay at Fratton Park have lost their first two league games.

A 2-1 defeat to early pacesetters Beerschot was followed up with a 1-0 defeat to Charleroi last week.

Oostende now bid to get their first points on the board when they go to Sint-Truiden on Monday - the club who former Blues winger Mladen Rudonja arrived at Fratton Park from in 2000.

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